Bicycle-bell.



No. 657,346. Patented Sept. 4, |900. N. N. HILL.

BICYCLE BELL.

(Application filed Dec. 20, 1899.) u

(No Model.)

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I NITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE..

NORMAN N. HILL, OF EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT.

BICYCLE-BELL.'

sPEciicATIoN forming part of Lee-.ers Patent No. 657,346, dated september 4, 1900.

Application iiled December 20, 1899. Serial No. 740,963. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, NORMAN N. HILL, of East Hampton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Bicycle-Bells; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the 'same,andwhich said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-- Figure l, a view in vertical section of one form which a bell constructed in accordance with my invention may assume; Fig. 2, a plan view of the bell with the gong removed; Fig. 8, an enlarged view, in vertical section, of the bell with the gong removed; Fig. 4, a detached pian view showinga modication of my improvement; Fig. 5, a detached plan view of a movement-plate provided with a vibrating hammer and members of a train for actuating the same; Fig 6, a View thereof in vertical central section.

My invention relates to an improvement in bicycle-bells, the object being to produce a continuous-ringing push-button bell which shall be of simple, compact, and durableconstruction.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention I employ a gong A, having a centrally-arranged internally-threaded inwardly-projecting hub A', adapting it to be applied to the screw-threaded upper end of a rotatable post B, the lower end of which is formed with a trunnion B', entering a step B2, located in the center of the bot-- tom of the cup-shaped base or body C, and securing thereto the upper member D of the clip, which also comprises a lower member D and two clamping-screws D2 D2, of ordinary construction. Upon the post B, at a point directly below the hub A, which forms one bearing for it, I locate a centrally-arranged rotary hammer, which may be of any approved construction and which consists, as shown, of an upper plate E, a lower plate E, vibrating disks E2 E2, pins E3 E2, disk springs E4 E4, a central hub E5, and a pinion E6. The said pinion E6 bears upon a ratchetwheel F, internally threaded for engagement with threads F formed upon the post B, which is formed with a narrow shoulder b, upon which the lower face of the ratchetwheel is seated.

When the bell is assembled, it will be understood that the hammer, which turns freely upon the post, is confined between the hub A of the gong and the said ratchet-wheel, which is engaged by a paWl F2, operated by a spring F3, and secured by a pivot f to the upper face of a disk-shaped movement-plate G, adapted to set within the extreme upper edge of the cup-shaped base C, in which it is prevented from turning by means of outwardlyprojecting lugs g, which set into notches c, formed in the upper edge of the base, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The said pinion is meshed into by the fourth Wheel H of a train, also comprising a third wheel H' and a second wheel H2, located above the plate, andacentrally-arranged rst wheel H2, located below the plate and secured by rivets I to the large shallow rotatable barrel J, containing the coiled actuating-spring K. The said first wheel H3 meshes into the pinion H4 of the second wheel H2, which, with its pinion, is secured in place by a rivet h, mounted in a bracket-like arm G, forming an integral part of the plate G, and set down below the upper face thereof and forming a bearing for the pinion H4, which is thus allowed to extend down through the plate into position to be meshed into by the first wheel H2, as clearly shownin Fig. 3. It Will thus be seen that a portion of the actuating-train of the bell is located above the plate G and a portion of it below the plate G and that I dispense with the plate ordinarily located above the plate G to form a bearing for the upper ends of the pinions of the members of the actllating-train. The central portions of the plate G, the iirst wheel H2, and the bottom of the barrel J are formed with central perforations for the reception of a loose bushing L, which constitutes a central bearing for the post B, the upper edge of the said hub bearing against the lower face of the ratchet-Wheel F and b, formed upon the post to which the inner IOO the lower edge of it resting upon a shoulder end of the spring is rigidly secured by means of a pi n K, the outer end of the spring being secured by a hook J to the [iange of the barrel J. Under this construction the spring is wound up by rotating the post B through the medium of the gong A, the pawl F2 and the ratchet-wheel F operating to hold the post against reverse rotation under the in luence of Ithe spring-(which exerts a consta-nt effort to rotate the barrel J and actuate the train, and hence the revolving hammer. Normally this effort of the spring to rotate the barrel, train, and hammer is resisted by means of a brake-shoe M, having'frietion engagement with the pinion E6 of the hammer, this shoe being formed integral with the inner arm of a bell-crank brake-lever M, secured by a pivot M2 to the upper face of the plate G and having its outer arm M3 formed with a downwardly-turned finger M4, which eX- iends downward through a clearance-slot G2, formed in the edge of the plate G, into position to be engaged by the inner end of the stem N of a push-button N, mounted for reciproeation in a sleeve or collar O, rigidly secured to the rim or iange of the clip-like base C or body of the bell, as shown in Fig. 3. A spiral spring P, secured at one end to the upper surface of the plate Gand at the other end to the innerarm M of the said bell-crank lever, is employed to normally maintain the shoe M in frictional engagement with the pinion EG. In this position of the lever the finger M4 aforesaid pushes the push-button outward, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be readily understood now that when the push-button is pressed inward by the operator of the bell the tension of the spring I is overcome and the brake-shoe M forced away from the pinion EU, whereby the actu ating-trai n is relieved of restraint and immediately set in operation by the spring K, which begins to uncoil and in so doing rotates the barrel J upon the post B as a center and actuates the train, and therefore rotates the hammer, the disks E2 of which are thrown outward for engagement with one or more projections a, formed within the gong A.

It is apparent that in carrying ont my iuvention the mechanism herein shown and described may be modiiied in a variety of ways. Thus instead of having the brake-lever coact at its inner end with the pinion of the rotary hammer I may employ, as shown in Fig. 4, a brake-lever Q, having its bentl inner end Q adapted to coact with the fourth wheel Q2 and the third wheel Q3 of the actuating-train, the outer end of the lever being adapted to be engaged by the stem of a push-button Q4. Again, myimproved movement-plate, having a depressed integral bracket-like arm, may be used in a bell having a vibrating instead of a rotary hammer, as shown in Figs. 5 and (i, in which the hammer R is mounted upon a hammer-wire R, secured to a verge R2, coaeting with an escapement or crown wheel R, the pinion R of which is meshed into by staats a wheel R5, the pinion R of which rests upon a depressed arm or bearing-S, formed by cutting the movement-plate S and striking a portion of it downward, this bearing-arm receiving the lower end of the pivot T, upon which the wheel and its pinion RG rotate. It will be observed that the pinion R extends downward through the plate S in position to be engaged by a first wheel corresponding to the wheel Hf" of the other. In the construction now being described the push-button, which is not shown, will be arranged to coact with a spring U, located upon the under face of the movement-plate and formed with a finger U', which engages with the hammerwire R' to normally restrain the same from vibration under the constant impulsion ofthe train; but when the finger U is pressed inwardly away from the ham mer-arm R by means of the push-button the train will immediately be actuated with the effect of vibrating the hammer and sounding the gong. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a bicycle-bell, the combination with a cup-shaped base or body, of a movementplate secured thereto, a rotatable spring-barrel located within the said base, a rotatable post, a spring located within the said barrel and having its inner end connected with the post and its outer en d connected with the barrel, and a loose hub yforming a bearing for the said post, and supported in the center of the said plate and barrel.

2. In a bicycle-bell, the combination with a cup-shaped base or body, of a movementplate secured thereto, a rotatable spring-barrel located within the said base or body, a rotatable post, a coiled spring having its inner end connected with the said post, and its outer end connected with the said barrel which it rotates, a gong applied to the said post, a rotary hammer mounted upon the post, an actuating-train connected with the said hammer, located partly above and partly below the said plate and including a first wheel secured to the said barrel, and a loose hub forming a bearing for the said post, and mounted in central perforations formed in the said plate, barrel and iirst wheel.

3. In a bicycle-bell, the combination with a cup-shaped base or body, of a disk-shaped plate secured thereto, a rotatable spring-barrel located within the said body, a rotatable post, a coiled spring located within the said barrel and having its inner end connected with the post and its outer end connected with the barrel, a gong applied to the said post, a rotary hammer mounted upon the post for ro tation thereupon, and an actuating-train con- IOO IIO

IZO

estelle nec-ting the hammer and barrel and located partly above and partly below the said plate, which is cut and struck down to form a depressed arm which carries one member of the said train and its pinion which latter extends downward through the plate into position to be engaged by a member of the train located below the plate.

et. A bicycle-bell provided with a movement-plate struck up to form a depressed arm or bearing for carrying a member of the aetuating-train of the bell and the pinion of the said member, the said pinion extending downward through the opening formed in the plate in the production of the said arm.

5. In a bicycle-bell, the combination with the body or base thereof, of a plate mounted in the said body, a rotatable post supported in the said body and plate, a gong applied to the said post, a hammer for sounding the bell, a rotatable spring-barrel located within the said body or base, a loose hub forming a bearing for the said post and supported in the eenter of the said plate and barrel, a spring located in the said barrel and having its inner end connected with the post and its outer end connected with the barrel which it rotates, a train connected with the barrel and with the hammer, and set in motion by the rotation of the barrel, a bell-crank lever mounted upon the said plate, and adapted at its inner end to restrain the actuation of the said train, and a push-button coacting with the outer end of the said lev'er foi1 operating the same to rei lease the train.

6. In a bicycle-bell, the combination with the body or base thereof, of a plate mounted in the said body, a rotatable post supported in the said body and plate, a gong applied to the said post, a rotary hammer mounted upon the said post and provided with a pinion, a rotatable spring-barrel located within the said body or base, a spring located in the said barrel and having its inner end connected with the post, and its outer end connected with the barrel which it rotates, an actuating-train connected with the barrel, and set in motion by the rotation thereof, and comprising a member which meshes into the said pinion `of the hammer, whereby the same is rotated, a

bell-crank lever mounted upon the said plate,

and adapted at its inner end to engage with the said pinion with the creation of sufficient friction to restrain the actuation of the said train, and a pusl1-button coacting with the outer end of the said lever which it swings to clear the inner end thereof from engagement with the pinion so as to release the train and permit the sounding of the gong.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NORMAN N. HILL. Witnesses:

FRED. C. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELsEY. 

